Pilkington Brothers P.l.c.

Angus Dougal Duncan

Brian Hargreaves

Glass scoring apparatus comprises a cutting tool, means for applying a cutting load to the cutting tool when the tool engages a glass surface to be scored, and a damping member arranged to absorb energy developed by reaction forces opposing the cutting load when the tool is moved into contact with the glass. The damping member has a loss factor tan .delta. which is high enough to prevent any substantial transient reduction in the cutting load.

Apparatus for cutting or scoring sheet material

Apparatus for cutting or scoring sheet material, e.g. glass, with rapid responses to irregularities in the surface of the sheet material and to commands to commence or interrupt a cutting or scoring operation, employs a fluid pressure actuated diaphragm device to impart movement to a cutting or scoring tool, e.g. a cutting wheel, towards and away from the surface to be cut or scored, and means for controlling selectively the pressure acting on each side of the diaphragm. The tool may be supported and guided in a cutter head which incorporates the diaphragm device and which carries supporting means, such as a pair of wheels, for supporting the cutter head on the surface of the material when the tool is retracted. Fluid pressure supply to the diaphragm device and to a separate piston device for applying the cutting load can be controlled by solenoid-operated values. Supply of a cutting fluid to the tool can be similarly controlled.

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Ashton-in-Makerfield, United Kingdom

Angus Dougal Duncan